EVANSVILLE — How about that for a crazy night of high school football?
Week 2 is in the books across Southwestern Indiana with a few notable results to discuss. Both West Side programs are 2-0. How about Central getting back in the win column? And what do we make of the No. 1 team in Class 3A leaving Kentucky with a loss?
Here’s what we learned on Friday night starting with a record-setting victory at Bundrant Stadium.
IHSAA football: Here are all the Week 2 Evansville-area high school football scores
John Hurley sets a new Memorial football victory record
The number itself doesn’t mean much to him. John Hurley still understands its importance.
The Memorial football coach earned his 139th career victory with a 35-14 win at North, moving past Gene Logel for the top spot in Tigers’ history. A full-circle moment for the Memorial graduate considering he was asked to write an English paper his sophomore year about the history of the football program. Who did he interview? Logel.
“It’s pretty humbling,” said Hurley. “I’ve got all the respect in the world for coach Logel, coach (Ralph) Weinzapfel, coach (Larry) Mattingly and all those guys through the years. It means a lot that I’ve had the opportunity to at least be recognized with those guys. I don’t know that I necessarily belong there.”
Not all victories are treated the same. Following an impressive display at Jasper, Memorial needed four quarters to put away the Huskies. The defense was among the stars with Alex Broshears and Connor O’Donohue in double-digit tackles. Take away a muffed punt and the unit only allows one score.
Matthew Fisher was unofficially 21 of 39 for 181 yards and two touchdowns to Maxx Anslinger. Fisher also scored three times on the ground including a 41-yard scamper on an option read. For the record, his previous career long was 23 yards.
“I don’t know that I’ve done that since fifth grade,” Fisher said. “It was my read and they went to the pitchman. I tried to take off and use the wheels that I think I have. We have to clean a lot of things up, but to be 2-0 is a big deal. You can’t go undefeated without winning the first and second one.”
It wasn’t a perfect showing. The offense struggled with consistency for stretches. North running back Jason Rucker also ran for a 67-yard touchdown. Still, 2-0 is the goal through two weeks. Memorial is undefeated going into Week 3 for the second straight season.
The Tigers are meeting expectations to start the season. Still, whether he likes it or not, the focus of this result was on Hurley.
“There’s nobody out there who sacrifices more time than he does,” said Fisher. “For us to do that for him is really special. It’s taken a lot of teams before us to do it. There’s no more deserving guy out there.”
The question of the night: Is Mater Dei officially back?
This result might turn heads beyond our corner of the state: Mater Dei 28, Castle 24.
After one of the toughest seasons in Mike Goebel’s tenure on the West Side, the Wildcats are 2-0 again. This win should speak louder than their first. The Knights were one of the preseason conference favorites with a defense anchored by Division I talent. Mater Dei had little issue racking up yards with junior quarterback Tate Mallory throwing for 300 and rushing for another 75.
This upset required a goal-line turnover and two touchdowns in the final three minutes. Two games might also be ripe for overreaction. However, Mater Dei is squarely within the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference conversation now.
What do we make of the SIAC?
This is where the evening was interesting. Three of the five conference games were decided by one score.
Reitz stayed unbeaten with a 30-6 win at Vincennes Lincoln. This performance with a few starters on the sideline possibly erased some question marks, not allowing a score until late against the reserves. Jamontre Johnson had three passing scores and one receiving touchdown.
How about Central? It won for the first time since Oct. 1, 2021, with a 15-14 win at Bosse. Hunter Broshears found Nathaniel Cano in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining. Time will tell if more positive results follow, but it’s a noteworthy night as Brandon Artis continues to rebuild the program.
‘This is one of the bricks’: Central football snaps a 24-game skid with win at Bosse
Jasper rebounded from a lackluster effort to beat Harrison 41-33. Eliot Smith and Max Bueltel both went over 100 yards, while the Wildcats’ defense had a key interception near the goal line. That was still an eye-turning effort from Harrison, who might be further along than some anticipated. Rylan Knapp threw for 351 yards and five touchdowns.
Only three teams (Memorial, Reitz, Mater Dei) are still undefeated. Week 2 showed depth remains within the SIAC.
Who is starting to emerge from the PAC?
Let’s get the biggest thought first: No. 1 Heritage Hills lost 35-7 at Christian Academy of Louisville. I’m also not labeling it the end of the world for the Patriots.
Heritage Hills wasn’t the favorite on the road against the defending 3A state champions from Kentucky. Such a matchup and result can pay dividends down the line should the right lessons be learned. Jett Goldsberry had 168 total yards and one touchdown. The rest of the offense: eight yards.
Gibson Southern did offer a statement with a 42-6 win against Mount Carmel (Illinois). We’re already looking forward to Week 6 against Heritage Hills if the offense continues to make progress. It was also a stronger night from North Posey in a 48-7 win over Princeton with Jed Galvin rushing for 208 yards and four scores.
The Small School Division title could sneak under the radar as one to watch. North Posey, Tell City, Forest Park and Pike Central are all 2-0. Southridge also reminded everyone it didn’t go anywhere with a 41-20 win over Boonville. A reminder that only one of these teams has played a division game. Still, keep this group bookmarked for the next month or two.
Note: Washington at Edgewood will resume on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT following multiple lightning delays. The Hatchets trail 3-0 with 8:23 left in the third quarter.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: What we learned from Week 2 in Southwestern Indiana
